Hospitals overflow in western India

Hospitals in Mumbai and elsewhere across the western state of Maharashtra were packed with at least 2,850 so-called "fever cases," health officials said, adding that the tally could be much higher as not all cases had been reported.

Many patients lay on floors as beds ran out.

"We're finding more and more cases of people with shooting fevers who are collapsing," said senior state health official P. Doke, said in Mumbai, India's business capital and home to the prolific Bollywood film industry.

"Instead of giving antibiotics orally, now we're giving them intravenously."

Television stations broadcast government warnings for people to take symptoms of fever and vomiting seriously and seek immediate medical attention.

A major worry was an outbreak of leptospirosis that officials believed was responsible for many deaths but a multitude of cases of gastroen-teritis, viral fever, dengue fever and other illnesses was also reported.

Leptospirosis is caused by exposure to water contaminated with animal urine and its symptoms include high fever and vomiting. It can be treated with antibiotics.

"The outbreak is of concern" but under control," said R.R. Katti, a senior state health official said.

Health officials said time was a key factor in treating the illness.